Last Friday, March 5, the American Society of Anesthesiology
contacted the FDA and US Drug Enforcement Agency, the
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America,
and several anesthetic manufacturers and distributors
asking them to participate in an immediate fact-finding
mission to put an end to the critical drug shortage.

March 21,
2001

Most patients do not want to be "protected" from information
about all possible adverse effects of prescribed medications.

Recently, a vial of U-500 insulin was left in a nursing
unit refrigerator after the patient for whom it was
prescribed went home. While looking for regular insulin
in the refrigerator, a nurse saw the familiar brand
name, HUMULIN R (regular insulin) but did not notice
the U-500 concentration